Clostridium difficile infection is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Treatment of this infection usually occurs using other antibiotics, but many individuals have persistent diarrhea and multiple relapses. Fecal Transplant (FMT), or Intestinal Microbiota Transplantation, (IMT) has been shown to be efficacious when administered after treatment for C. difficile. This study will involve taking biopsies from patients during their FMT/IMT via colonoscopy, and determine if there are differences in the mucosal flora as compared to the stool flora. The investigators hope to discover the critical parts of a healthy microbiota.
A total of 20 subjects with at least one relapse of Clostridium difficile infection undergoing Intestinal Microbiota Transplantation via colonoscopy will be recruited in this study. The patients will produce a stool specimen at the time of colonoscopy and a biopsy will be obtained during the colonoscopy. At 2 weeks and 10 weeks, stool specimens and anoscopy will be collected to be tested for C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the fecal microbiota. Subjects will be referred from all locations of Emory Healthcare.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
10
Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
The proportion of subjects who experience resolution of diarrhea associated with C. difficile infection without relapse 2 weeks and 10 weeks post Intestinal Microbiota Transplantation (IMT)
Time frame: 10 weeks post IMT
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